As far as holidays go, I'm not sure how legit National Cheese Ball Day is. But I'm happy to celebrate any holiday that involves snacking on excessive quantities of cheese. Especially when that cheese comes in a totally cute package.

Here to help us celebrate National Cheese Ball Day is my friend Michelle Buffardi, who wrote Great Balls of Cheese, a whole book on cheese balls. {What? You don't have a friend who's a cheese-ball expert? Boo for you. } If you're not familiar with the cheese ball, think of it as your plain old cheese-and-crackers platter, with about 1,000 times more personality.

I mean, I'd never complain about being served a log of pineapple-flecked white Cheddar and cream cheese, but I'd be so much more jazzed if this landed on the coffee table.

The pineapple is a symbol for hospitality and friendship and serves as an image of welcome...not unlike the appetizer. Nothing will welcome friends better than a pineapple-flavored, pineapple-shaped appetizer.

2 bunches scallions

16 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese

1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained well

1 small jalapeno, cored, seeded, and diced

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

2 cups pecan halves, toasted, for decorating

Crackers, for serving

Cut the green tops off the scallions; set aside. From the white parts of the scallions, chop 1 tablespoon and reserve.

Using a stand mixer or a bowl and a spatula, mix together the cream cheese, Cheddar, pineapple, jalapeno, cumin, salt, and the reserved tablespoon chopped scallions until combined. Form the mixture into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Before serving, remove the cheese ball from the plastic, mold into a pineapple shape, and set it on a platter—it should look like an oval with a flat top. Arrange the pecans to look like the skin of a pineapple (you may need less than 2 cups, but choose the best-looking pecans to decorate the cheese ball). Stick the reserved green scallion tops in the top of the cheese ball to look like the crown of a pineapple.

Serve with crackers.

__* * * * * __ Cheese-cheers, ladies!

Are you familiar with the cheese ball? Would you serve one? Would you snack on one?

Photos: Jason Wyche. Excerpted from Great Balls of Cheese (2013) by Michelle Buffardi. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.